Classical car to be converted from oil to electricity Is it the regression of new energy technology, or the persistence of car culture?

In Europe, the trend of converting vintage cars from gasoline to electric power has been gaining momentum in recent years, with many successful cases and renowned companies emerging.

Transition-One from France: Can 8500 euros save a scrapped car?

One of the earliest successful cases of electric conversion in Europe that we became aware of was in 2019. The pioneers behind the successful conversion of an old car from gasoline to electric power were a newly established startup company from France called Transition-One.

They purchased a batch of Tesla battery modules from a parts recycling company and installed three of them into a 2009 Renault Twingo. The entire battery system weighed approximately 120 kilograms, similar to the weight of the original engine and fuel tank of the Twingo. One module was positioned in the front of the car where the original engine was located, while the remaining two were installed in the rear where the fuel tank used to be. As a result, this compact two-door car was transformed into an all-electric vehicle with a range of 180 kilometers.

Furthermore, they also made certain modifications and upgrades to several components inside the car.

At that time, the total cost of all modifications for this car was 8500 euros (it is understood that, after subsidies from relevant authorities in France, the actual cost of converting from gasoline to electric power for the owner could be as low as 5000 euros).

Perhaps to us, the audacity of using second-hand batteries in a private vehicle and achieving a range of 180 kilometers similar to the Renault ZOE may not be very appealing, but to many Europeans, it is considered a rather good option. Due to differences in car culture and the environment, they possess an extraordinary dedication to vintage cars, especially those with a rich history.

Of course, another reason for being willing to accept a limited range is the environmental awareness of most Europeans.

They believe that using second-hand batteries provides a new outlet for electric vehicle batteries, which otherwise would require a significant amount of time and effort for disposal and recycling.

Moreover, many European car owners of vintage vehicles are not unwilling to change their cars. The reason they persist in driving vehicles that should have been replaced or scrapped long ago is because they believe that the process of scrapping cars is highly environmentally unfriendly—even though in Europe, scrapped vehicles are mostly recycled now, the process is still not entirely environmentally friendly.

Transition-One is currently capable of performing the "gasoline to electric" conversion on common small cars such as the Fiat 500, Volkswagen Polo, Renault, Peugeot 107, and Citroën C1. After the conversion, these cars can achieve a minimum range of 100 kilometers, but generally have a top speed of only 110 kilometers per hour.

To a certain extent, Transition-One does cater to the ideals of mainstream environmentalists in Europe, offering a cost-effective and fashionable way to transition from gasoline cars to new energy vehicles.

To be continued!